The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-27
THEY WERE BOYS ONCE.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE CHILDHOOD
DAYS OF NOTED PUBLIC MEN.
Secretary Lamar studlous Youngster
OF Delicate Mold-Gen. Black Stout
Fellow Who Worked Hard for His
Education-Publc Printer Benedict.

'fNh bilNlAlA ~ ~ 49, o. . Ns't
and children are only men and women
seen through the spyglass inverted. The
babies OF the last generation were but a
mlcrocosm OF the adults OF this. So IL Is
that nothing more interests thoughtful
person than the incidents OF his own child
hood, and next to that come the Incl
dents OF somebody clscs childhood. Let
us review some Of these today
One OF the public men OF Washington,
now more conspicu0Nsly than ever in the
public eye, is l.. q. G. Lamar, Secretary
Of the Interior. About month ago, after
nursing the thought ever since last winter,
the President said to him after Cabinet
meeting one day: "Mr Lamar, I'd like
TO have you 90 on the supreme bench"
And the Secretary frankly said Z" would
like to obligo you; moreover, the place you
indicate is that one OF all in your gift
which ! most prize, and for which am,
perhaps, best fitted In q week or so the
transfer will be made, and II will probably
be superseded in accordance with civil
service rules.
The surroundings Of Lamar's childhood
were somewhat peculiar lie was chris
tened, by the way, not Lucius Quintus
Curlius, as is generally supposed, but
Lucius Quintus Clncinnatus the "C'
standing not for the man who jumped into
tbegulito die, but in the man who jumped
out OF the corn 10 fight.
The Secretary was a studiOus and
thoughtful boy. He docs not remember
when he learned 10 read, and his sur
roundings were scholarly. His father was
u circuit judge, learned and widely es-
tcemcd, and his three unclcs Jefferson,
Thomas and Mirabeau Lamar, were all re-
markable men, the last named being
president Of the republic Of Texas when
his nephew was boy. Judge Lamar
died when his son was nine years old, and
he then fell 20 his patient mothers care.
OF course young Lamar went 10 school.
That which most Influenced his mind and
formed his life were the Manual Labor
school and Methodist college ut Oxford,
Ga. have heard him ieliGiAtc himself
on the fact that he was sent there.
81 WIS a delicate boy, never 81 athletic
rs my brothers, and being put TO work
Strengthened aud toned up my whole sys-
TEN. We all had 90 work three hours
every day at the ordinary work OF a planta-
ton blowing, hocing, cutting wood, pick
ing cotton and sowing il. pulling lodder,
and every item Of planters occupation.
When W. left that school We could not
only do this ordinary drudgcry in the best
way, but the most expert could shoe q
horse, make an axe hclvc, stock pillow, or
do any plain bit Of blacksmithingor carpcn-
try. II was great training Tor us all, for
We became perfectly ycrscd in the details
OF the work ol n farm. Many OF Gcurgia's
most distinguished men were reared there,
but the institution was not a financial sic
cess
once asked the Secretary what his mem
tai tendencies were in school.
Toward history, political economy, So
GEOLOGY aud biology hc said. Poetry.
too, took a strong hold oi nc. When /
was in rollcgr | read through the plays Of
Shakespeare and the dramatic poetry oi
that remarkable woman, Johanna Eaillic.
recommended 10 me by my mother"
Mr.. Lamar Is not monomaniuc, like
Johanna Baillic's impossible characters,
but versatile aud many sided for, tending
strongly toward philosophy aud mcdita-
ton, lac yet became professor Of maihe-
mates, as we'll rs political economy, in the
University oi Mississippi.
mc' u llousicr the other DAY who Is
known Ia his friends ~ Colonel. and at
the table in Chambcrlain's hc told story
of GEN John &. Black, commissioner of
pensions. The talk had run ON Blacks
chance for the VICE presidential npmina-
ton with Cleveland III we're Black
wouldn't give two cents 10 be- insured,
said the colonel. "lIlck is hardly u com
pcltor. The Vice President must come
from the west; ho must come from one Of
the only two States which the nrmorfats
have chance of carrying Indiana and
Illinois. Indiana has no candidate of
prominence. and M must hr q soldier aud
should be- wounded veteran. Then, Won
have Black. sccg the very Photograph
oi him.
81 WIS in school with John C., the
colonel went ON, 'at Wabash college.
Indiana. ! had some pocket money. like
most ul the boys, bui some Wcrc poor aud
got along ns they could. One ui these was
John, stout. hearty, cool.na'urrd and
ambitious boy, whom ! rlmr ~ like. lie
taught school aud worked on q farm In
vacation time anything Ia raise money.
In school ho helped take care col the
rnoWs. On account ui this service one ni
the big boys named Benton. who was
called rich, insisted on Fostering and
hOihoring him. John stood the icon, well
Tor q while. hut one morning wurl went
uuund that be- had warned the insolcnt
fellow 81 mind his own business. sup
posed that WIS the last ui it, but about q
week after there was au excitement around
the dormItory. AMI y soon imuspir,i that
Johnny Black had licked Benton, giving
him real dressing down, aud let him M
only at the end OF au nlyrcl apology and
q solemn promise. Everybody liked Black
after that. aud I believe that be- and
Benton finally got TO Doe good friends"
John G. Hack Is MissIs,ippian. or rs
be- IL accustomed tu put 10, 20 Misissip-
plan hy birth. q Pennsylvania bvdcscpnt.
q llo0siurby aulan lllinoi.,n bv
choice. lie aud affection Ills father was
q Presbyterian minister. who moved Ia
Mississippi inr his health. anil died there
eight yclr after John WIS horn. 10 the
frontier village 1T nanyilIp. no.. John went
with bis mother, and There grew to man.
hood. Ills fathers library. which was
saved, included the choicest hnuhs of the
times poetry, religion, history ariencc
fiction and Ia these the youth rryrlcd.
Ills mother was rigid and dc,out Pres.
hytcrian who kept OIL the ol.cranccs Of
tie church, "and," l have hcarl Gen.
Black any, "slIc raised all thr family In The
strict and noble tcuy,a ui that guat
Chuph.'
The boy went FIRST 20 private schools. Tor
there was no public syho1' system In mi.
nois thiriy-hvc year ago, AMI after the arc
Of fourteen he was always lJadpr I'm some
debating club and fond Of the intellectual
sport Of that little forum.
Thomas II. Benedict thccl.lor and pub.
Usher whom Mr.. CloyClaud8 year ago took
from the Compirollcr's office vi New York
State and brought hcTr 90 bc public print.